It’s carnival here too, although I find it difficult to link it to what we have in Brazil, basically because of the coldness and the kind of music they play. When it comes to costumes, they can be very creative and funny. Like most of the parties here, drinking is a must, not only to help get in the mood, but also to keep warm because of the low temperature. We watched the parade in Paderborn today. It was snowing a lot and it was so cold that I couldn’t feel my feet anymore. Before the parade was over I had to run (with my two blocks of ice = my feet) to a shop to get warmer. Well, but it was worth it <:o)
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All posts for the month February, 2010
Carnival is the time I miss Brazil the most. It’s the weather, the music, the atmosphere all over the country. Better than trying to explain the feeling, I found a video that might be more effective. Although this video just shows the big parade in Rio, carnival is much more and there are different interpretations around the country. But one thing you find, no matter where you are in Brazil, is enthusiasm and joy. I hope you enjoy the video.
I could confirm something really interesting during our last trip: Germans can talk to you for hours, meet you on the following day and engage in conversation again without bothering to ask your name. How did I get to that conclusion? Well, we were on a German ship, which was full of Germans, of course. During the meals we had to share the table with strangers (not necessarily the same ones everyday) and had the opportunity to talk to different people. We met some of them more than once and what makes it all amazing in my opinion is that I know where they came from, what cars they drove, their jobs, but, believe it or not, I have no idea what their names are. Wy didn’t I ask them? Because as the only foreigner at the table, I decided to go with the flow and not to sound nosy. Seems like you should only let people know your name when you think you have reached a point where the relationship has a future and could get deeper. On the same trip, we met a group of Brazilian tourists while waiting for a sightseeing tour bus in one of the cities we visited. After less than five minutes chatting one of them said, “By the way, we have been talking for a while (which, remember, was less than five minutes) and we don’t know your name.” My husband noticed the difference and mentioned it later. Typically Brazilian. And by “name” I mean “first name”, which in Brazil is very important. A good example is that unborn babies start being called by their names the moment parents find out if it’s a boy or a girl whereas here the name is kept as a secret until the baby is born. I particularly find the Brazilian way more personal. 😉
I guess we’re never really happy with what we have, or maybe we’re just tired of the extremes. Whenever I call my mom, sister or friends I listen to their complaints about how hot it is in Rio. I keep myself updated by reading Brazilian newspapers online and by watching Brazilian TV and I know it has been stifling in Rio, but believe me, I’d rather have 40° C than all the snow and the gray days we’ve had this winter. I’m just fed up with it! I want to be in the sun, wear sandals, get rid of the thick winter clothes. I want to sleep longer without being worried if the streets are icy. Just like Louis Armstrong, I want to “see trees of green” and not just a bunch of naked branches. I want all the energy summer brings. And no, I won’t complain even if it’s 40°C!
Some Germans would consider Brazilians too dramatic and loud. That is true from their point of view. Germans are usually not very spontaneous people. I guess they plan too much to be spontaneous and they don’t really like showing a lot of enthusiasm in public. On the other hand, Brazilians are used to shouting, crying, using lots of body language and it’s hard for us to control our emotions. That’s why Brazilians end up having the feeling that Germans are cold. A good example was my first World Cup here, exactly the one which took place here in Germany. In Brazil you don’t even need a TV or radio to know what is going on during the game. So, if your TV or radio is broken, your neighbors keep you updated with all the screaming, complaining and celebrating. Here the streets remain quiet even when Germany is playing. During an important match for Germany (I don’t remember which) I could hardly realize that Germany had scored a goal which made them winners, because of the commentator’s lack of enthusiasm or vibration when saying (not “shouting”) “Tor” (goal). I felt something was missing: the loud neighbors and the shout (goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllll) on TV, at least. Another good example is a TV program here which renovates and redecorates people’s houses. That’s how it happens: a friend or relative writes to the program to invite them to come to renovate someone’s place. The owner of the house is only allowed to see it after it’s finished, so that it’s a surprise. And that’s the moment which always frustrates me: Germans being surprised. Usually no yelling, no crying, no kicking up their heels, but a simple low guttural sound that goes: “Boaah!!!” And to top it off there usually comes a “Nicht schlecht!” (not bad), but hardly ever something that sounds totally positive. I’d feel really disappointed if I had planned a surprise and got such a response. Well, my husband already knows there has to be a little more, although it is, I guess, hard for him to do so. I guess he has to practice a bit more or maybe take theater classes. 😉